Kirk Hamilton

 Fight for Shiloh

by

Kirk Hamilton

(Keith Hetherington)

They had all laughed at him, but Carey was past caring. He picked up a tintype of Laurie and himself on their wedding day, pushed it into the slim warbag and stumbled outside, six-gun buckled carelessly around his waist, the holster almost in the middle of his back, rifle trailing. The alcohol made everything blurry. He noticed that the hardcases kept their hands on their gun butts as he staggered to his horse—just in case he found enough guts to try something stupid. He clawed his way into the saddle and rode out without looking back. He desperately wanted to leave the place, so he had no regrets. He told himself that Tully had done him a favor ... until he was halfway down that mountain. Then he turned around and went back, and this time there was blood in his eye.

When Carey discovers men burning his belongings, he's furious. When he realizes some of those possessions belonged to his late wife, fury turns to deadly violence. The result is a killing he never intended, but one that changes everything.

With a $1,000 bounty on his head, placed there by Tully's father, Carey goes on the run. Most men in his position would head for Mexico, but news of his long-lost grandfather Shilo's death sends him north instead. Shilo has left him a gold mine, along with more trouble than he could ever have imagined.

Shilo was widely hated, and the townsfolk quickly transfer their resentment to his grandson. As if that wasn't enough, rustlers are using the mountain as a corridor out of the territory, a hard-nosed sheriff is determined to keep the peace his own way, and a ruthless bounty hunter is closing in. Faced with enemies on all sides, Carey may find it easier to move the mountain than survive on it.

This is another fine western from the Cleveland stable, originally published in 1977 and now rescued from obscurity by Piccadilly Publishing. Keith Hetherington was a superb storyteller whose talents extended far beyond the western genre. An entertaining, fast-paced read and an easy 5/5.

This will be available on 1 December from Piccadilly Publishing and Amazon.